Furniture glide and method of making same



Nov.1l, 1941., v H. G; SWARR I FURNITURE GLIDE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 16, 1959 H. G. SWARR FURNITURE GLIDE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Nov. 11, N41.

Fi led Nov. 16, 1939 25h t Sh t2 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 FURNITURE GLIDE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Howard G. Swarr, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 16, 1939, Serial No. 304,662-

15 (llaims.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applications, Serial No. 253,727, filed January 31, 1939, and Serial No. 270,720, filed April 29, 1939.

This invention relates to glides or sliding shoes forum in connection with articles of furniture, and, more particularly, to glides so constructed as to permit an article of furniture to be tilted while in contact with the supporting surface without danger of breaking or cracking the glide.

This invention has for its chief object to provide an improved furniture glide and attaching means, of simple, economical construction so as toreduce its cost and to facilitate manufacturing and assembling operations. An object of my invention is to provide a glide so constructed as to permit an article of furniture to be tilted while contact with the supporting surface without danger of breaking or cracking the glide. A further object is to provide a glide in which the attaching means and the base are securely and permanently held as a unit. A still further object is to provide a glide so constructed that compressive forces cerated by a carried load are distributed ina zone encircling the bottom of the glide rather than being localized in th center of the. glider A still further object is to provide an. improved method of assembling such glides.

This. invention relates to a glide for furniture comprising a base having a floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein adapted to receive a furniture supporting member, and a rounded furniture supporting member of substantially the same diameter as the recess seated therein, said member terminating in a furniture load. distributing. member, the load distributing member being formed of a material possessing greater resistance to compressive forces than the material from which the base is molded. Myin vention further relates to a glide for furniture inwhich a retaining member isfitted in the base recess and serves to securely hold the furniture supporting member in the recess.

In order that my invention may be more read-- understood, 1 will describe the same in conjunction with-the attached drawings, in which,

Figure l is a sectional view of the glide of" my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation-illustrating the glide attached to a furniture leg, such leg being shown by dotted lines in oneof the positions to Figure 7 is a sectional view of a modified" form of the glide shown in Figure 6';

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the glideshown in Figure 6, illustrating a modified form of furniture attaching means;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the glideshownin Figure 8, illustrating the glide attached to a furniture leg;

- Figure 10 is a sectional view'ofthe'glide'showrr in Figure 6, illustrating a different form of furniture attaching means; and

Figure 11 is a sectional'view of-a modifiedform of the glide shown in Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings, specifically, Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a glide comprising a molded base 2 having a substantially flat floor engaging bottom surface and a domed or f-rustoconvex upper surface. The floor engaging bottom surface of the base 2 may beslightlyconvex if desired, and in some circumstances such form is preferable. A semi-spherical recess 3 is formed in the domed surface adapted to receivea furniture supporting member, the recess 3'- be ing molded substantially .500" in diameter. A rounded rib or ridge 4 surrounds therecess-3and' contracts the eiiective opening thereof'to a width less than the maximum diameter of the recess;

The rib 4 is located a slight distance below the opening of the recess 3 extending radially inwardly in the recess and contracting the opening thereof to a diameter of approximately .485"; The slight recess space remaining; above the rib 4' extends outwardly to facilitate insertion of'furniture attaching means therein, .as will beherein-Z after explained; Thebase, preferably; i's'molded. of a phenol-aldehyde condensation product-,1. alrthough it may bemolded of any: other suitablematerial provided such material possesses sufficient strength, resiliency, and flexibility to permit slight distortion and a ready return to original form.

The furniture supporting member comprises a rounded or spherical head 5, approximately .495" in maximum diameter, so that it is slightly smaller than the body of the recess and greater in width than the portion of the recess surrounded by the rib 4. The head is provided with an opening for the reception of a furniture piercing portion such as a collar nail 6 secured therein by a force fit. In place of a collar nail 5, I may use screw nails, cotter pins, pintles, studs, or other suitable means adapted to be forced in an article of furniture to securely retain the glide tosuch article.

In assembling the glide, the furniture supporting member is positioned over the semi-spherical recess 3 on the domed surface of the base 2, and the rounded spherical head 5 is forced or snapped into the recess, the base 2 being sufficiently resilient to permit the rounded head 5 to be forced through the contracted opening and into therecessand capable of returning to original form; so that such head is securely held in the recess bythe rib 4.

Therounded or spherical head 5 is freely rotatable within the semi-spherical recess 3 to permit tilting of an article of furniture while in contact with a supporting surface without danger of breaking or cracking the glide. It will be noted, the bottom surface of the rounded head 5 of thefurniture supporting member is flattened diametrically opposite the furniture piercing portion 6 thereof, the furniture supporting member being engaged and maintained in position by the walls of the recess so that the load is distributed in a zone encircling the bottom of the recess rather than localizing it inthe center in the weakest portion thereof; in. no case does the nail or pin 6 "carry the weight of the furniture. A washer 1 may be provided adjacent the head 5 ofthefurniture supporting member to prevent the l' ead 5 embedding itself in an article of fumiture during severe and excessive service, and also serves to limit the tilting movement of the article of furniture with respect to said glide.

In attaching the glide to an article of furniture, an opening is drilled in the furniture leg 8 (Figure 2) and the nail 6 pounded therein, since such procedure prevents splitting and cracking of the furniture leg if it be formed of cheap or inferior material.

In Figure 3, I have illustrated the glide shown in Figures land 2 provided with a modified form of -furniture attaching means. The flattened spherical head 9 is provided with a countersunk opening adapted to receive the head ID of a cotter pin, the resilient legs II of the pin extending through the opening and being bent outwardly above the head 9 to secure the pin to the head. The furniture supporting means and the base are assembled as a unit in the manner above described. When attaching the glide to an article of furniture, an opening is drilled therein, the legs of the cotter pin being forced toward one another and being inserted in such opening. 'Upon their release, they attempt to spring outwardly to their original form, frictionally engaging the walls of the opening to retain the glide insecure engagement with the furniture.

f In Figures 4 and 5, I have illustrated a modified form of glide adapted for use in places where the glide is exposed to severe or. excessive compressiveorimpa'ct forces tending to crush or crack the base, The} base I2 is'g'enerally similar-to the molded base 2 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the

recess l3 therein being cylindrical and having a flat bottom or base rather than being in semispherical form like the recess 3 of the base 2. A load distributing member or socket l4 having substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical recess I3 is placed or seated in the bottom of the recess l3. Such load distributing member 14 is formed of a material possessing greater resistance to compressive or impact forces than the material from which the base !2 is molded, preferably, metal such as steel, brass, or the like, and is provided with a concave recess l5 adapted to receive the head N3 of the furniture supporting member. The furniture supporting member is generally similar to the furniture supporting member shown in Figures 1 and 2. The head l6 of the furniture supporting member seats in and is supported by the socket I4, thereby distributing the load in the zone encircling the bottom of the socket I4 and avoiding any concentration of load in a restricted area. It will beappreciated the rounded head I6 is freely rotatable within the recess l3 while in engagement with the socket I4, to permit tilting of an article of; furniture while in contact with a supportingsurface without danger of breaking or cracking the glide. A washer I1 is likewise provided adjacent the head IE to prevent the head l6 embedding itself in the article of furniture during severe service and also serves to limit the tilting movement of the article of furniture with respect to saidglide.

The furniture supporting member is assembled in the base l2 as above described, and maybe attached to a furniture leg in the same manner as the glide illustrated in Figure 1. Such glide is capable of withstanding severe or excessive compressive or impact forces since the load dis-- tributing member I4 resists such forces and distributes the load. in the zone encircling the bottom of the member H. The glide shown in Figure 4 is adapted to withstand considerably greater impact forces than the glide illustrated in Figure 1, although it is slightly more expensive I to manufacture.

The glide shown'in Figure 5 is similar to the glide shown in Figure 4, but illustrates furniture attaching means similar to that shown in Figure in the manner above described, and may-be attached to a furniture leg similar to the glide illustrated in Figure 3. r

In Figure 6, I have illustrated a modified form of glide comprising a molded base 2| having a slightly convex, substantially continuous floor engaging bottom surface and a domed frustoconvex upper surface. A generally cylindrical recess 22 is formed in the domed surface adapted to receive a furniture supporting member. A rounded rib or ridge 23 surrounds the recess22 and extends radially inwardly in the recess thus contracting the effective opening thereof to a width less than the maximum diameter of the recess.

Preferably, the rib 23 is placed a slight distance below the opening of the recess 22.

A load distributing member or socket 24 having substantially the same diameter as the recess 22 is placed or seated in the bottom of the recess 2-2.

Such load distributing member 24 is formed of a:

materialpossessing greater resistance to. compressivepr impact forces than the material from which the base is. molded, preferably, metal such as steel, brass, or the like, and is provided with a concave recess 25 adapted to receive the head 26 of the furniture supporting member.

The furniture supporting member comprises a rounded or spherical head 26 which is approximately equal in diameter to the contracted open ingof the recess 22, althoughit may be of slight- 1y smaller or slightly larger diameter as hereinafterpointed out. That is, it is approximately equalin diameter to the opening of the recess 22- at the rib 23 andis slightly less in diameter than the maximum diameter of the recess 22'. Preferably, the head 26 is provided with an upwardly and outwardly extending washer portion 21 to prevent the head 26 embedding itself in. anarticle of furniture during severe and excessive service. Such washer portion 21 of the head 26 also serves to limit the tilting movement of the article of furniture with respect to said glide. The head 26 is pr'ovided with an. opening for the reception of. afurniture piercing portion such as a collar nail 23 secured therein by a force fit. The bottom surface of the head 26- is flattened diametrically opposite the furniture piercing portion 28 thereof.

A retaining member or metallic collar 29 is provided to securely hold the head 26 of the furniture supporting member within the recess 22. The term collar as used herein is intended to include within its scope, bushings, rings, circlets, eyelets or similar'means used in a similar manner to securely hold the furniture supporting memberto the base. The collar 29- consists of an upper portion 36 which extends outwardly and. lies over the surface of the base 2| defining the. recess 22, and a lower portion 3|] which is fitted within the recess 22. The lower portion 36 f the collar 29 is wedged between the head 26 of the furniture. supporting member and the wall of the recess 22 including the rib 23. The diameter of the head 26 plus the thickness of the collar 29 is greater than the contracted opening defined by the rib 23 so that the head 26 is retained in the recess 22 thus permanently attaching the furniture supporting member to the base 2|.

.It. will be appreciated the head 26 of the furniture supportingv member is freely rotatable With-- in the recess. 22 to permit tilting of an article of furniture while in contact with a supporting surface without danger of breaking or cracking the. glide. The bottom surface of the rounded head 26 of the furniture supporting member is also flattened diametrically opposite the furniturepiercing portion 28 thereof, the head 26 seats in and issupported by the socket 24 thereby distributing the load in the zone encircling the bottom of the socket24 and avoiding any concentration of load in a restricted area.

In. assembling the glide shown in Figure 6, theloaddistributing member or socket 24 is placed at'the bottom of the recess 22 of the base 2| and the rounded head 26 of the furniture supporting member isseated therein. As pointed out above, the diameter of the head 26 is substantially equal to.- thewidth of the contracted opening defined by the rib 23 so that it is not necessary to forcibly urge the head past the rib 23. The collar 29 is positioned above the recess 22 resting on the head 26: of the furniture supporting member. It is forced downwardly into the recess 22 and de-' tion. 30e-thereof takes the form: of the periphery of. the head 26'. Since the diameter of" the. head: 26 plus the thickness of the. collar. 23' is greater than the contracted opening defined bythe rib. 23 positive retention of the furniture supporting member withthe base 2| is assured.

A glide so produced is quiet in use since the furniture supporting member and the base 2|: arev securely engaged thus obviating rattling cre-: ated by parts of the glide rubbing or bumping against one another- It is eflicient in operation, being freely rotatable to permit tilting of an article of furniture while in contact with a supporting surface without danger of breaking or cracking the glide. The. load supported by the:

IE glide is distributed in the zone encircling the. bot

tom of the recess rather than being localized in thecenter of the glide in the weakest portion thereof Thecollar nail 28 in nocase carries the weight. of. the furniture; the washer portion 21" of thehead 26 prevents the head embedding itself. in an article of furniture during severe and excessive service.

The glide shown in Figure 7 is generally sim'- ilar to the glide shown in Figure 6', except that. the head 3| of the furniture supporting member is slightly greater in diameter than the contracted opening definedby the rib 32. In this case, the head 3I- of the furniture supporting member is forced or snapped into the recess 33 of the base 34-, the base 34 being sufficiently resilient to permit the rounded head 3| to be forced through thecontracted' opening and into the recess and capable of returning to original form so that such.

headis held in the recess by the rib 32. Prefer ably, a collar 35 is deformed about thehead. 3 k: as above described to aid in securely holding the head 3| in the recess 33 and to obviate rattling created by the members rubbing or bumping against one another. 1

In Figure 8, I have illustrated the glide shownin Figures 6 and 7 provided with a modified. form of furniture attaching means. The rounded head 36 is provided with a countersunk opening adapted to receive the head 31' of a split or; cotter pin, such pin extending upwardly through the opening in the head 36 and having resilient leg portions 38 bent outwardly above the head 36 and being movable inwardly and outwardly as they are flexed. The upper sec-- tions of the resilient leg portions 38 are provided," with a plurality of notches 39, the upper walls of the notches 39 being adapted to engage the upper end of the tubular socket of a grip-neck or choke-neck finish to securely hold said member with respect to the tubular socket. Pref-- erably, the head 36 is formed with a washer pertion 40 similar to the washer portions 21 shown" in Figures 6 and 7, and with an upper portion 4| adapted to fit within the tubular socket to aid in preventing relative movement therebetween when the glide is in use.

The furniture supporting means and the base are assembled as a unit in the manner above described. When attaching "the glide to an article of furniture, an opening is drilled therein, the grip-neck or choke-neck finish inserted in such opening, the resilient legs 38 of the cotter pin being flexed toward one another and being pushed in the opening defined by the tubular socket until the upper wall of at least one notch 39 engages the tubular socket at its upper end to securely hold the furniture supporting member with respect to said socket. This. specific form of cotter pin possesses many advantages. among which is the fact that such cotter pins are adjustable in length to fit various sizes. of

openings in furniture legs. That is,the opening may have insufficient length and, accordingly, the legs 38 of the cotter pin may be too long to be satisfactorily positioned therein. In such.

case, the cotter pin may be adjusted, in size by breaking the pin at the notches to shorten the pin to a length commensurate with the open-.

ing previously drilled in the furniture leg.

Breaking the resilient leg portions of the cotter pin generally bends the upper portion of such legsoutwardly in opposed directions thus aiding in the engagement of the pin and the, tubular socket, as well as, in some cases, engagement between the pin and the wall of the opening in the furniture leg.

In Figure 9, I have illustrated the glide shown in Figure 8 assembled with a furniture leg. The

socket with which such glide is employed is preferably of the grip-neck or choke-neck type, and consists of a cylindrical tube 42 having a bottom disc 43 secured thereto in the usual manner, and adapted to be secured to the furniture leg, as by means of the peripheral teeth 44, when the leg is of wood or of other material into,

which the teeth may be driven. The upper portion of the tube 42 is split longitudinally at suitable points and is tapered inwardly thereby forming a springy upper portion and a restricted opening at the upper end. The drilled opening 45 in the furniture leg 46 extends substantially above the'upper end of the socket. The enlarged portion 4| of the head 36 is adapted to fit within the opening in the cylindrical tube 42 of the grip-neck or choke-neck socket to aid in preventing relative movement therebetween when the glide is in use. The glide is secured to the socket by flexing the resilient legs 38 of the split pin toward one another and inserting them in the socket. The legs 38 are further forced toward one another by the tapered portion of the socket so that as the ends of the legs pass above the end of the tube 42, the notches 39 engage the socket at its upper end and securely hold the furniture supporting member with respect to the socket.

In Figure 10, I have shown a further modification of my invention. The head 41 of the furniture supporting member is secured to the base 48 as above described. The head 41 extends upwardly and outwardly to form a washer portion 49 which obviates any possibility of the head 41 embedding itself in an article of furniture during severe ,or excessive service. The head 41 is provided with an upwardly extending, tubular, rigid stud 50 which is formed'integral therewith and is adapted to be driven into a wood furniture leg to attach the glide thereto. The upper end of the stud 50 is sharpened by bevelling the outer surface as at In use, atubular cutting tool similar to but slightly smaller in diameter than the stud 50 is driven in the furniture leg toform a slight cut therein. The cutting tool is then removed and the stud is driven into the Wood furniture leg by hammer blows applied to the base 48. The stud, due to its bevelled outer surface and its tubular formation, enters a wood furniture leg without exerting any outward splitting or cracking strains, the tubular cut produced being no larger than the outer diameter of the stud. At the same time, the stud 50 cuts a dowel from the furniture leg which is wedged to some extent within the stud thus increasing the resistance of the stud to any forces tending to loosen it from the furniture leg.

is retained in the recess by the rib.

The glide produced by my invention is of. simple, economical construction so as to reduce its,

cost and to facilitate manufacturing and assembling operations. It is eflicient in use and is quietlin operation soas to eliminate rattling or rubbing sounds caused by engagement of the various parts of the glide. The glide is so de-' While I have described and illustrated certainpreferred embodiments of my invention, vitwill be understood my invention is not so limited since it may be otherwise embodied within th scope of the following claims. I claim: l. A glide for furniture comprising a base having a floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein adapted to receive a fur--v niture supporting member, a furniture supporting member seated in the recess, and a collar deformed about said furniture supporting memberand wedged between the walls of the recess and said member so as to securely hold said member in the recess.

2. A glide for furniture comprising a molded base having a floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein adapted to receive a furniture supporting member, a rib protruding from the walls of the recess contracting the effective opening thereof to a width less than the maximum diameter of the recess, a furniture supporting member seated in said recess and having a width substantially equal to the opening defined by the rib, and a collar fitted about said rib to securelyhold said member in the recess by reducing the effective openingof the recess, said furniture supporting member being freely rotatable in the recess to permit tilting of thefurniture with respect to said base.

3. A glide for furniture comprising a molded base having a substantially continuous floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein adapted to receive a load distributing member, a rib protruding from the walls of the.

recess contracting the effective opening thereof to a width less than the maximum diameter of the recess, a load distributing member placed at the bottom of the recess, said member being formed of a material possessing greater resistance to compressive forces than the material from which the base is formed, a furniture supporting member seated in said recess, said mem.-.

ber comprising a rounded head of substantially the same diameter as the opening defined by said rib terminating in a furniture piercing portion and being flattened diametrically opposite the furniture piercing portion whereby the load is distributed in a zone encircling the bottom of the load distributing member, and a collar fittedin said recess between said rib and said furniture supporting member and serving to securely hold saidmember therein by reducing the effective opening of the recess, the furniture supporting f'm'einber being freely rotatable in the recess to permit tilting of the furniture with respect to 4. A glide for furniture according to claim 3,

which the collar consits of an upper portion and a lower'portion, the lower portion of said base having a substantially continuous floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein adapted to receive a load distributing member, arib protruding from the wall of the recess contracting the effective opening thereof to a width less than the maximum diameter of th recess, a load distributing member placed at the bottom of the recess, said member being formed of a material possessing greater resistance to compressive forces than the material from which the base is formed, a furniture supporting member supported by said load distributing member and having a diameter substantially equal to the opening defined by the rib, said member including a rounded head of substantially the same diameter as the recess terminating in an upwardly extending tubular, rigid stud adapted to be driven in a wood furniture leg, the rounded head of said member being freely rotatable in said recess to permit tilting of the furniture with respect to said base, and a collar fitted about said rib to securely hold said member in the recess by reducing the effective I opening of the recess.

6. A glide for furniture comprising a molded base having a substantially continuous floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein adapted to receive a furniture supporting member, a rib protruding from the walls of the recess contracting the effective opening thereof to a width less than the maximum diameter of the recess, a furniture supporting member seated in said recess, a retaining member fitted about said rib to securely hold said furniture supporting member in the recess by reducing the effective opening thereof, said furniture supporting member including a rounded head terminating in an upwardly extending, tubular, rigid stud adapted to be driven in a wood furniture leg, the rounded head of said furniture supporting member being freely rotatable in said recess to permit tilting of the furniture with respect to said base.

'7.A glide for furniture comprising a molded base having a substantially continuous floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein adapted to receive a furniture supporting member, a rib protruding from the walls of the recess contracting the effective opening thereof, a furniture supporting member seated in said recess having a maximum width greater than the contracted opening defined by the rib and being freely rotatable therein to permit tilting of a furniture leg, said base being sufficiently resilient to permit said member to be inserted through the contracted opening and to permit the base to return to original form, and a retaining member fitted about said rib to further reduce the effective opening of the recess thus aiding in retaining said furniture supporting member in the recess.

8. A glide for furniture comprising a base having a floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein adapted to receive a furniture supporting member, a furniture supporting member seated in the recess, and a retaining member disposed about the mouth of the recess to reduce the effective -openi ng thereof thus securely holding the'furniture supporting mem'berfin the recess. v

9. A glide for furniture comprising a base having a floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein adapted to receive a rotatable furniture supporting member, a furniture supporting member seated in said recess, and a retaining member attached tofthefbase, said retaining member being disposed about the opening of the recess and-reducing'the effective opening thereof to a width less than'the widthof the furniture supporting member to securely hold the furniture supporting member in the recess.

10. A glide for furniture comprising a base having a floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein, a load distributing member at the bottom of said recess, said member being formed of a material possessing greater resistance to compressive forces than the material from which the base is formed, a furniture supporting member seated on said load distributing member, and a collar attached to the base, said collar being disposed about the opening of the recess and reducing the effective opening thereof to a width less than-the width of the furniture supporting member to securely hold the furniture supporting member in the recess.

11. In the method of making furniture glides including a base having a recess therein and a rib surrounding the recess and contracting its effective opening, the steps comprising placing a rounded furniture supporting member having substantially the same diameter as the contracted opening in said recess, placing a retaining member in the contracted recess opening adjacent said rib so as to further reduce the effective opening thereof to retain the furniture supporting member in the recess, and deforming at least a portion of said retaining member about the rounded furniture supporting member so as to securely hold said retaining member in position in the opening.

12. In the method of making furniture glides including a base having a recess therein and a rib surrounding the recess and contracting its effective opening, the'steps comprising disposing a load distributing member within said recess, placing a rounded furniture supporting member having substantially the same diameter as the contracted opening in said recess in engagement with said load distributing member, placing a collar in the contracted recess opening adjacent said rib so as to further reduce the effective opening thereof to retain the furniture supporting member in the recess, and wedging at least a portion of said collar between the furniture supporting member and the rib surrounding the recess so as to securely hold said retaining member in position in the opening.

13. In the method of making furniture glides including a base having a recess therein and a rib surrounding the recess and contracting its effective opening, and a furniture supporting member having substantially the same width as the contracted opening seated in the recess, the steps comprising placing a collar in the contracted opening adjacent said rib so as to further reduce the effective opening thereof to retain the furniture supporting member in the recess, and deforming a portion of said collar about the furniture supporting member so as to securely hold said collar in position in the openmg.

14. -A glide for furniture comprising a base having a floor engaging bottom surface, said base having a recess therein adapted to receive a furniture supporting member; a furniture supporting member seated in said recess, and a retaining member attached to the base-and deformed about the furniture supporting member,

said retaining member being disposed about the opening of the recess and reducing the effective opening thereof to a width less than the width 10 of the furniture supporting member to securely hold the furniture supporting member in the recess. 

